In Venezuela, rescuers achieved a remarkable breakthrough when they pulled a 43-year-old man alive from the rubble of a collapsed building eight days after powerful twin earthquakes struck the country.

The survivor, identified as security guard Hernan Gil, was rescued from a seven-storey building in Catia La Mar, a coastal area heavily devastated during the June 24 disaster.

His extraction required a highly complex, coordinated operation involving rescue teams from seven countries including Venezuela, Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico.The operation was carried out carefully to avoid triggering further collapse in already weakened surrounding structures.The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.

5 magnitude, caused widespread destruction across La Guaira and nearby regions, flattening entire neighbourhoods and severely damaging infrastructure already weakened by years of economic crisis.

According to official figures, the death toll has reached around 2,295 people, while over 11,000 have been injured and approximately 13,000 displaced from their homes.Tens of thousands remain missing, raising fears that the final toll could rise further.Satellite assessments have indicated that nearly 58,870 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed.

Despite occasional rescues, including a child found days earlier, hopes of finding more survivors are fading as many buildings have been marked after searches confirmed no signs of life.Humanitarian conditions are worsening, with shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.The World Health Organisation has warned of increased risk of disease outbreaks due to strained health services and low vaccination coverage.Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has appealed for urgent funding to support hundreds of thousands of affected people.Reports of looting and insecurity have also emerged as communities struggle to survive in the aftermath of the disaster.